Treg Heterogeneity, Function, and Homeostasis

Abstract

T-regulatory cells (Tregs) represent a unique subpopulation of helper T-cells by maintaining immune equilibrium using various mechanisms. The role of T-cell receptors (TCR) in providing homeostasis and activation of conventional T-cells is well-known; however, for Tregs, this area is understudied. In the last two decades, evidence has accumulated to confirm the importance of the TCR in Treg homeostasis and antigen-specific immune response regulation. In this review, we describe the current view of Treg subset heterogeneity, homeostasis and function in the context of TCR involvement. Recent studies of the TCR repertoire of Tregs, combined with single-cell gene expression analysis, revealed the importance of TCR specificity in shaping Treg phenotype diversity, their functions and homeostatic maintenance in various tissues. We propose that Tregs, like conventional T-helper cells, act to a great extent in an antigen-specific manner, which is provided by a specific distribution of Tregs in niches.

Keywords: T-regulatory cell; TCR repertoire; TCR—T cell receptor; antigen-specific activation; immune equilibrium; single-cell analysis (SCA).

Figure 1

Treg lymphocyte differentiation dynamics.

Figure 2

Transcription heterogeneity of the Treg population.

Figure 3

Mechanisms of Treg suppression.

Figure 4

Schematic presentation of a Treg niche.